Friday, August 17, 2007

I’d intended to post these sooner but lacked the space to set it up and photograph. I just set up a studio in my dining room and I’m working on preliminary sketches and thinking about my next animation.

Looking at this one now I see I didn’t take it far enough, and went to far in some directions (I’m always looking for a balance). I think this was an in-between animation guiding me in a lot of new directions, which makes it just as important.

I also want to thank Alex for asking where the hair was, and our conversation about having conversations in doorways being easier because you have an exit. This animation/drawing would not have gone as far as it did with out his feedback.

I’m expecting a lot more out of my next animation and in the next few weeks will post some side projects I’ve been working on.

Thursday, August 16, 2007

I will forever be indebted to my friend Joe Panciera who helped make me the music snob that I am today. He introduced me to countless bands and musicians that helped me remain emotionally and spiritually alive while living in rural southwest Virginia.

One of those bands that spoke to me the most and that I can not stop talking about there greatness is Akron/Family on Swans founder Michael Gira’s label Young God Records(which put Devendra Banhart on the map). I’m not one of those people who talks about a bands earlier work as being there best, or that I was one of the first to like Modest Mouse (which I don’t, Sorry.) When I think a band is great I think everyone should be listening to them and that fact does not cheapen or lessen the music. Akron/Family is a great band that puts out incredible albums and amazing live shows. I’ve never seen a band have some much fun singing and playing to an audience (I’m lying, Man Man puts on an incredible show as well.) Their sound is takes the whole spectrum from gospel to noise to jam band. With each new album they expand and soar to new heights, their new album comes out September 18. I’m going to see them in St. Louis at the Creepy Crawl on September 8th, and if you have a chance check them out.

Tuesday, August 14, 2007

The past few weeks I got an opportunity to teach Beginning Drawing and Cartooning for Kids in two groups of ten 6-8 year olds. My first few days were shaky but by the end of the third day of teaching I was sold, and before I knew it the class was over. I had a week off between that before I taught cartooning. The cartooning class was older then my drawing class and seemed to stay busier and stay quieter. My classes went well though I feel like I didn’t teach them enough basic principles. I thought the work both classes did was creative and great and that the kids helped me be more creative and inventive. I enjoyed the one-on-one conversations with them about their drawings and cartoons more then I did actually standing in front of a chalkboard.

I haven’t got my class evaluations so I don’t know how well I did, but I’m working on an outline for a cartooning and storytelling class for the spring. Below I've posted some of the group drawings from my begining drawing class.